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Afterimage
(In the Company of Shadows #2)
by
In the Company of Shadows is a series about two people who are thrown together as partners in a secret agency; their mission is to disband rebels who have propagated in a post-war future, but they have to deal with everything that comes with an unlikely partnership as well.
Miscommunication, periods of distance, fleeting smiles and learning to trust someone when a person ...more
Miscommunication, periods of distance, fleeting smiles and learning to trust someone when a person ...more
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ebook, Online Fiction, 1015 pages
Published
2009
by Santino Hassell & Ais
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Start your review of Afterimage (In the Company of Shadows, #2)
ME, AT THE BEGINNING:
THEN THINGS WENT TO HELL WHEN SIN HAD HIS MELT DOWN:
ME, WHEN BOYD IGNORED SIN WHEN HE WANTED TO OPEN UP ABOUT HIS ISSUES:
ME, THROWING A TANTRUM WHEN ANN AND SIN DID WHAT THEY DID:
ME, WHEN SIN TOLD BOYD ABOUT ANN:
ME, WHEN BOYD DID WHAT HE DID WITH CAPTAIN AMERICA:
KASSIAN:
SIN AND BOYD BEING APART:
THIS BASICALLY SUMS UP MY TOUGHTS ON THE AGENCY:
I SCREAMED THIS A LOT MAKING MYSELF LOOK MORE NUTTIER THAN I AM:
ME, AT MY LAPTOP CURSING THE IDIOTS IN THE BOOK. I'M HOT, RIGHT? LOL
ME, ...more
THEN THINGS WENT TO HELL WHEN SIN HAD HIS MELT DOWN:
ME, WHEN BOYD IGNORED SIN WHEN HE WANTED TO OPEN UP ABOUT HIS ISSUES:
ME, THROWING A TANTRUM WHEN ANN AND SIN DID WHAT THEY DID:
ME, WHEN SIN TOLD BOYD ABOUT ANN:
ME, WHEN BOYD DID WHAT HE DID WITH CAPTAIN AMERICA:
KASSIAN:
SIN AND BOYD BEING APART:
THIS BASICALLY SUMS UP MY TOUGHTS ON THE AGENCY:
I SCREAMED THIS A LOT MAKING MYSELF LOOK MORE NUTTIER THAN I AM:
ME, AT MY LAPTOP CURSING THE IDIOTS IN THE BOOK. I'M HOT, RIGHT? LOL
ME, ...more
I AM DESTROYED .
Now…
I really love it when I learn something about myself from reading a book.
What I learned from Afterimage: (view spoiler) I am a soft-hearted, kind person who wants everyone to be happy. I love fairy tales and puppies and ice cream sundaes.
This? This is torturous angst that rips you apart and skewers you and eats you alive and then spits you out and stomps on you and flicks you off its shoe into a vat of burning lava only to ...more
This book was horrible! An experience in emotional anguish that I think has left me with a bloody ulcer, a few gray hairs and a nervous tick.
Afterimage is Book 2 of In the Company Of Shadows, and it should come with warnings: Those with heart conditions, stomache conditions, and mental instability, stay far away. Those who find themselves emotionally invested after the 1500 pages of Book 1 ( I defy you not to be) wrap your heart in kevlar and line your stomach with copious amounts of Gaviscon, ...more
Afterimage is Book 2 of In the Company Of Shadows, and it should come with warnings: Those with heart conditions, stomache conditions, and mental instability, stay far away. Those who find themselves emotionally invested after the 1500 pages of Book 1 ( I defy you not to be) wrap your heart in kevlar and line your stomach with copious amounts of Gaviscon, ...more
I’ve just done my first re-read of this and it was just as emotional and draining as it was the first time.
Despite it being a second read I was completely engrossed just like the first time.
I love Hsin completely and just wished Boyd was worthy of him and wasn’t such a selfish bastard.
This book is long, 1015 pages long and while it’s addictive and brilliant (fully deserving its 5* in my opinion) it also has some slow parts (nothing a bit of editing won’t fix) although it appeared to me that ...more
Despite it being a second read I was completely engrossed just like the first time.
I love Hsin completely and just wished Boyd was worthy of him and wasn’t such a selfish bastard.
This book is long, 1015 pages long and while it’s addictive and brilliant (fully deserving its 5* in my opinion) it also has some slow parts (nothing a bit of editing won’t fix) although it appeared to me that ...more
Apr 09, 2019
Ms. Smartarse
rated it
it was amazing
Recommended to Ms. Smartarse by:
Dia
Shelves:
mm,
sci-fi,
rave,
action-adventure,
available-for-free,
part_of_a_series,
psychological,
drama,
dystopia
Well... this was depressing. Though I didn't walk around crying my eyes out (I saved that for Fade), there was always a general feel of listlessness around me. I didn't really want to do anything else aside from reading THIS. PARTICULAR. BOOK. I tried to resist, believe me, but nothing held my attention: no manga, no fanfiction, no TV series, and not even life in general.
The fragile truce from the end of Evenfall, which allowed our protagonists a bit of respite, is swiftly coming to an end. ...more
The fragile truce from the end of Evenfall, which allowed our protagonists a bit of respite, is swiftly coming to an end. ...more
Jun 29, 2016
Wendy
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
angsty,
intense,
badass-hero,
death,
mental-issues,
top-read,
secret-government-agency,
heartbreaking,
action,
blame-susan
I know many are removing their ratings and reviews of all the books they have read, written by Santino Hassell, in light of his despicable behavior. I have deleted my ratings from all Santino books I have read, because I too am shocked and appalled!!! I won't do it with the ICOS series though. I am gonna be honest here and say, that this series is one of the best I have ever read, and I am sure Ais played a big part in my enjoyment. As far as I know, Ais had nothing to do with all that has
...more
5 STARS!
Citizens of Goodreads, I am soo damn raw, exhausted, shattered and numb.. And I cant explain the ways my chest is tight and burning. I need a damn hug.
Thank you for tolerating my rants and ramblings full of foul hateful words. I apologize for my behavior. I promise to be better, but I'm notorious at breaking promises. So whatever.
Sigh.
This is ANGST on steroids. And its done in a way that I had to put it down every now and again to get myself a hot chocolate just to calm myself. Because I ...more
Citizens of Goodreads, I am soo damn raw, exhausted, shattered and numb.. And I cant explain the ways my chest is tight and burning. I need a damn hug.
Thank you for tolerating my rants and ramblings full of foul hateful words. I apologize for my behavior. I promise to be better, but I'm notorious at breaking promises. So whatever.
Sigh.
This is ANGST on steroids. And its done in a way that I had to put it down every now and again to get myself a hot chocolate just to calm myself. Because I ...more
May 28, 2014
Tara♥ {MindforBooks}
added it
"Love and trust and believing in other people – what was the point when humans were all flawed and fucked up anyway, when they only hurt each other continuously because they were too stupid to do anything else?"
I am sad. So sad.
I finished Afterimage last night and went straight into The Interludes. Last night I was feeling much better about everything that happened in this book. Throughout Afterimage I told myself that everything that was happening was happening for a reason. That both Boyd and ...more
I am sad. So sad.
I finished Afterimage last night and went straight into The Interludes. Last night I was feeling much better about everything that happened in this book. Throughout Afterimage I told myself that everything that was happening was happening for a reason. That both Boyd and ...more
*Might contain spoilers*
I was so fucking disappointed. I had hope that Hsin ‘Sin’ Liu Vega (27) and Boyd Beaulieu (21, becomes 22) would become closer, that more depth would enter their relationship; however they were barely together. It was stupid, full of miscommunication, selfishness and boring. The feelings on had started to feel for those two, disappeared, specially for their relationship. That back and forth, going back to square one; even way before that.
“He'd lost the only part of...more
May 09, 2016
Dia
rated it
it was amazing
Recommended to Dia by:
I~❤️~Books
Shelves:
reread-needed,
hot-hot-hot,
lots-of-action,
loved-it,
the-best,
m-m-favorite,
2016-read,
m-m,
painful-story,
best-2016
THE BIGGEST 5 STARS I EVER GAVE TO A BOOK
This story WAS AMAZING!!!
I enjoyed it way more than Evenfall. I loved the first one, but the second ... just blew my mind and consumed me SO MUCH!
SIN - he made me love him so much!! His olive skin, deep green eyes and his killer mouth! He was just so vulnerable and his biggest flaw: he loved too much, too deep!
Boyd - well I am very angry with him right now, so all I'm going to say is: I really hope he will do something BIG to make me forgive ...more
This story WAS AMAZING!!!
I enjoyed it way more than Evenfall. I loved the first one, but the second ... just blew my mind and consumed me SO MUCH!
SIN - he made me love him so much!! His olive skin, deep green eyes and his killer mouth! He was just so vulnerable and his biggest flaw: he loved too much, too deep!
Boyd - well I am very angry with him right now, so all I'm going to say is: I really hope he will do something BIG to make me forgive ...more
Rating removed because of this:
http://riptidepublishing.com/a-statem...
Ais, you are an awesome writer
Original review:
Hard and raw third installment of "In the Company of shadows" (book 2 if you've read the unedited version) where our heroes are not together, things are tough for both of our guys, and sadness, betrayal and surprises share prominence in an extraordinary plot.
Everything is broken...
One star has fallen, I'm aware of it, believe me, but all the 4 remaining stars are because the book ...more
http://riptidepublishing.com/a-statem...
Ais, you are an awesome writer
Original review:
Hard and raw third installment of "In the Company of shadows" (book 2 if you've read the unedited version) where our heroes are not together, things are tough for both of our guys, and sadness, betrayal and surprises share prominence in an extraordinary plot.
Everything is broken...
One star has fallen, I'm aware of it, believe me, but all the 4 remaining stars are because the book ...more
Sep 11, 2016
Jewel
added it
Review Removed.
http://riptidepublishing.com/a-statem...
https://www.goodreads.com/user_status...
Just so we're clear, Ais is innocent in all this.
http://riptidepublishing.com/a-statem...
https://www.goodreads.com/user_status...
Just so we're clear, Ais is innocent in all this.
I didn't think it was possible for Sonny and Ais to write a book as amazing as Evenfall, but they did it. Afterimage is absolutely incredible, I have no idea how to tell you just how much I loved it, but I'll give it a good go...
I was warned by many ICoS fans that this book would crush my heart, and my soul. But I was very happy to discover that I could totally handle it. Okay I will admit that I did cry, hideously so at times, but I handled all the other stuff just fine. LOL
I am going to try ...more
I was warned by many ICoS fans that this book would crush my heart, and my soul. But I was very happy to discover that I could totally handle it. Okay I will admit that I did cry, hideously so at times, but I handled all the other stuff just fine. LOL
I am going to try ...more
**SPOILERISH**
Hsin and Boyd’s Evenfall HEA is short lived with this sequel. However, this only improves the characters, the story and even the writing! Don’t assume too much - Boyd’s rambling soliloquies are still present, but maybe not as abundant or pointless. Still had to skim at some parts - only to go back and reread them to wring as much enjoyment out of this series as possible - because, GEEZ, this thing is epically long. But I have to admit, as in need of an editor as this series is, I ...more
Hsin and Boyd’s Evenfall HEA is short lived with this sequel. However, this only improves the characters, the story and even the writing! Don’t assume too much - Boyd’s rambling soliloquies are still present, but maybe not as abundant or pointless. Still had to skim at some parts - only to go back and reread them to wring as much enjoyment out of this series as possible - because, GEEZ, this thing is epically long. But I have to admit, as in need of an editor as this series is, I ...more
The book is BRILLIANT!
I felt so much
Loneliness…
Misunderstandings…
Stupidity and Madness...
Pain...
Heartbreak...
Love...
Passion...
And just... fireworks
I LOVED IT... to the next one…
I felt so much
Loneliness…
Misunderstandings…
Stupidity and Madness...
Pain...
Heartbreak...
Love...
Passion...
And just... fireworks
I LOVED IT... to the next one…
I'm gonna fight them all
A seven nation army couldn't hold me back
They're gonna rip it off
Taking their time right behind my back
And I'm talking to myself at night
Because I can't forget
Back and forth through my mind
Behind a cigarette
And the message coming from my eyes
Says leave it alone
Don't want to hear about it
Every single one's got a story to tell
Everyone knows about it
From the Queen of England to the hounds of hell
And if I catch it coming back my way
I'm gonna serve it to you
And that aint what ...more
A seven nation army couldn't hold me back
They're gonna rip it off
Taking their time right behind my back
And I'm talking to myself at night
Because I can't forget
Back and forth through my mind
Behind a cigarette
And the message coming from my eyes
Says leave it alone
Don't want to hear about it
Every single one's got a story to tell
Everyone knows about it
From the Queen of England to the hounds of hell
And if I catch it coming back my way
I'm gonna serve it to you
And that aint what ...more
I'm removing my rating, but not my review. I still love this series, even though I most definitely do not condone what SH has done.
-------------------------------------------
Another excellent book in the ICoS series. Words can never express my feelings for these books. I have been totally consumed by them. I could not stop thinking about Sin and Boyd. These books suck you in..
This one was all about the feels…
This book had me crying and hurting along with Sin and Boyd, but also laughing. I fell ...more
-------------------------------------------
Another excellent book in the ICoS series. Words can never express my feelings for these books. I have been totally consumed by them. I could not stop thinking about Sin and Boyd. These books suck you in..
This one was all about the feels…
This book had me crying and hurting along with Sin and Boyd, but also laughing. I fell ...more
“I only cared about my life after he was in it. Why should I care now that he's not anymore?”
That quote DESTROYED me I'm not even kidding.
Though this book didn't quite blow my mind the way Evenfall did, it was still riveting and glorious. The plot was more intense this time. It has plenty of intrigue that kept me on the edge of my seat.
I want to hug both Sin and Boyd but at the same time I want to punch them and knock some sense into them. Argh. They frustrate the hell out of me. They were ...more
That quote DESTROYED me I'm not even kidding.
Though this book didn't quite blow my mind the way Evenfall did, it was still riveting and glorious. The plot was more intense this time. It has plenty of intrigue that kept me on the edge of my seat.
I want to hug both Sin and Boyd but at the same time I want to punch them and knock some sense into them. Argh. They frustrate the hell out of me. They were ...more
So…Afterimage. Angst raised to the Superpower.
Everybody kept saying how hard it was for them to read this book after they came to love the guys being together in Evenfall. I can’t say that I enjoyed reading about how it all went to hell page by angsty page, but I for one wouldn’t have it any other way. All these problems that they have as individual beings, it would be highly unrealistic if they easily overcame them.
Look at Sin. The guy’s mental problems are so off the charts that he is walking ...more
Dec 02, 2013
Optimist ♰King's Wench♰
added it
i didn't particularly like this anyways so cry 2 tears in a bucket, fuck it.
review removed
review removed
**Beware of Spoilers**
It will never cease to amaze and disappoint me what people do to each other in this world. How we affect each other’s lives with pain and hurt; love and passion; words and touch. People leave a mark whether they realize it or not. We are all so afraid of showing our true selves. So afraid someone will use it, turn and twist it all against us and HURT. For me, this story is about how we see ourselves, how people see us, and how it all gets so tangled up when we try to ...more
Jan 14, 2013
Em
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
dtr,
seriel,
angst,
buddy-read,
crime,
dirty-talk,
spy-agent-cop,
abuse-torture-rape,
futuristic,
m-m
How do I even start to write a review. This book was extremely hard going right through to the end. I shouted, cried, gasped and was completely gobsmacked on more than a few occasions....but god was it worth it. I've fallen in love with this series and nothing could keep me from carrying on through to the bitter end. *crazy laugh*
Boyd and Hsin spend most of this book either apart from each other or arguing and it was tough to read at times. Hsin is simply broken and out on his own for the ...more
Boyd and Hsin spend most of this book either apart from each other or arguing and it was tough to read at times. Hsin is simply broken and out on his own for the ...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
WARNING
With ICoS things are more complicated due to Ais' great work that should be acknowledged and preserved, so I've decided to scratch out all mentions of SH from them and to leave them standing, at least for the time being.
ORIGINAL REVIEW
The second instalment of Santino Hassell and Ais' In the Company of Shadows was a mindblowing, deeply brutal and ultimately hopeful experience (hopeful in the last two pages, though, so brace yourselves for quite a lot of serious angst!).
In its ...more
With ICoS things are more complicated due to Ais' great work that should be acknowledged and preserved, so I've decided to scratch out all mentions of SH from them and to leave them standing, at least for the time being.
ORIGINAL REVIEW
The second instalment of
In its ...more
Afterimage is the second book in the In the Company of Shadows series. In Evenfall we met Sin and Boyd and watched them defy prejudice, insecurity and loneliness to get together. In Afterimages, we are forced to watch them lose everything again.
Quite honestly: this shift of events was a shock for me in the beginning. And not necessarily because the story didn’t unfold the way I thought it would, but also because I couldn’t quite follow the -what I perceived as- sudden change in their thoughts ...more
Quite honestly: this shift of events was a shock for me in the beginning. And not necessarily because the story didn’t unfold the way I thought it would, but also because I couldn’t quite follow the -what I perceived as- sudden change in their thoughts ...more
Trainwreck.
In slow motion.
Not the book, the book is good. The relationship between Boyd and Sin. It's like watching Amy Winehouse or Charlie Sheen slowly self destruct, except you actually care. In this book, when I am going car shopping with Boyd and Kassian, instead of getting annoyed that I'm wasting time watching the MC doing something completely irrelevant, I am actually glad I am getting a breather from all the emo stuff. Let's go look at some more BMWs before we get back to the ...more
In slow motion.
Not the book, the book is good. The relationship between Boyd and Sin. It's like watching Amy Winehouse or Charlie Sheen slowly self destruct, except you actually care. In this book, when I am going car shopping with Boyd and Kassian, instead of getting annoyed that I'm wasting time watching the MC doing something completely irrelevant, I am actually glad I am getting a breather from all the emo stuff. Let's go look at some more BMWs before we get back to the ...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Ah, Afterimage. It reminds you of that feeling you had as a teenager, when life seemed meaningless and you thought everything would be better if you would just die already (or was that just me?). Uh, yeah...I guess what I'm saying is this book is pure torture.
We follow Sin as he's dealing with new symptoms of his psychological condition, and Boyd as he goes through a grueling three month training program in an attempt at independence. In the meantime, they are forced to take a closer look at ...more
We follow Sin as he's dealing with new symptoms of his psychological condition, and Boyd as he goes through a grueling three month training program in an attempt at independence. In the meantime, they are forced to take a closer look at ...more
Never a book had disturbed me more than Afterimage! I've felt destroyed, shattered and completely lost... I read this book always with the hope to find some light on all that darkness... a light that didn't want to appear...
The book is brilliant... the emotions that came with this reading proves the brilliance of these authors's minds... but for someone like me, who wants desperately Hsin and Boyd to be happy, this is a very disturbing and difficult book!!! I'm glad that I've read it, because I ...more
The book is brilliant... the emotions that came with this reading proves the brilliance of these authors's minds... but for someone like me, who wants desperately Hsin and Boyd to be happy, this is a very disturbing and difficult book!!! I'm glad that I've read it, because I ...more
Mar 12, 2016
Simone
added it
Rating removed!
Afterimage nearly killed me!
I still feel like I'm high on an emotional overload, so don't expect this review to make any sense or to do justice to this absolutely brilliant book. I would even fail to write a proper review, because everything I would say right now (such as it almost tore me apart, even if it's true), might sound overly dramatic and I won't go into too much details, anyway, since I don't want to give away too much.
So, let's just say that there were situations that ...more
Afterimage nearly killed me!
I still feel like I'm high on an emotional overload, so don't expect this review to make any sense or to do justice to this absolutely brilliant book. I would even fail to write a proper review, because everything I would say right now (such as it almost tore me apart, even if it's true), might sound overly dramatic and I won't go into too much details, anyway, since I don't want to give away too much.
So, let's just say that there were situations that ...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santino & Ais : Afterimage *WITH SPOILERS* | 226 | 143 | Jun 05, 2014 09:16PM | |
| Buddy Read - February 2013 | 374 | 58 | Feb 25, 2013 09:48AM |
Readers also enjoyed
Hey! I write LGBTQIA+, usually with a twist. My solo works are mostly fantasy, sci-fi, supernatural, or similar. Currently working on Wildwood Rising, a long LGBTQIA+ fantasy series; first book written/being edited: Incarnations.
Helpful links? Helpful links!
-My masterlist of original writing: http://aisylum.com/writing-masterlist/
-Some of my favorite solo stories: ...more
Helpful links? Helpful links!
-My masterlist of original writing: http://aisylum.com/writing-masterlist/
-Some of my favorite solo stories: ...more
Other books in the series
In the Company of Shadows
(4 books)
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“He loved him enough to want to die for hurting him, loved him enough to kill himself slowly for fear of losing him, loved him enough to suffer silently if he thought it was in Boyd's interest. Sin loved Boyd enough to make difficult decisions easily, as if there were no contest; he went toward Boyd as if he hadn't even considered any other choices.”
—
43 likes
“He'd lost the only part of his life that made it worth living because of a couple random fucks. How ridiculous.”
—
39 likes
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